A stretch of Republic Road in Fontainebleau, was as a scene of chaos on 12 June, with water from a burst pipe engulfing the road, and tearing it up.
Four armed men guarded a cash in transit vehicle, whose wheel was stuck under about 30cm of mud, while cars splashed by, dodging holes and debris in the road.
The area, which was on both sides of Rabie Street, might have sunk underground if there was more water, and become a tale in mythology like the lost city of Atlantis.
Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood, and owner of Fontainebleau Spar Nick Papayannopoulos, explained that this was one of many times a nearby water pipe had burst since April last year.
According to Papayannopoulos, every time the pipe was repaired, municipal workers would repair the affected pavement but not the road, leaving the road in a worse state each time.
“This pipe has been problematic,” he said.
“Last time I fixed the road myself but then the pipe burst again.”
Re/max Masters Sales Associate Matt de Beer explained that burst water pipes do affect the value of properties in the areas they occur, but if affected roads and buildings are repaired quickly, it would not affect the value too much.
Wood said that the stretch of road may need a complete upgrade by the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
Questions were sent to Johannesburg Water spokesperson Millicent Kabwe and Johannesburg Roads Agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers and comment is awaited.
Details: Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood 082 853 2174, Johannesburg Water 011 688 1400, Johannesburg Roads Agency 011 298 5001.
